RAPIST FATHER SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMET

Mr X who raped his two daughters has been sentenced to life imprisonment. The rapes on his daughters had lead to 19 pregnancies. The Prime Minster has promised overhaul of the child protection system.


According to a news report by the BBC, the 56-year-old man was sentenced to a life term for each of the rapes he had admitted to. He admitted to 25.

The Sheffield crown court heard the shocking case. Nine of the children were born. Two had died on the day of their birth. The other 10 pregnancies were miscarried or aborted.

The daughters released a statement to the BBC saying that "His detention in prison brings us only the knowledge that he cannot physically touch us again."

Mr X did not leave his prison cell to attend the sentencing. The Times of India has said that the man raped his daughters about a thousand times in eight years.

He is being compared to dungeon dad Josef Fritzl.

Investigations in the matter

The entire episode raises many questions. The sisters were in contact with helath professionals and social workers. Through investigations are now being planned into the matter, the Daily Mail newspaper has reported.

Jayne Ludlam from Sheffield City Council announced a review into the matter outside Sheffield Crown Court. She was speaking to the newspaper.

The newspaper has revealed that social workers in Sheffield were in contact with the family between 1976 and 1979.

The father took his family to Lincolnshire to avoid detection and in 2004 when they returned to South Yorkshire.

Both daughters went to hospital every time to give birth and they also had miscarriages and other medical problems.

A sad history

When either one of his victims tried to end the sexual abuse, he threatened to kill them and their children a report in the Guardian newspaper has said.

The mother’s role in the entire case has been one of a silent, somewhat aloof spectator, local newspaper The Star has reported. The newspaper has said that the mother turned a blind eye and walked away.
Nicholas Campbell QC, prosecuting, said it was believed the girls' mother knew her daughters were being abused by their father but did nothing to help.

On one occasion, the women called Childline and asked for a guarantee that they could keep their children, but when one was not offered they ended the call, the BBC has reported.

The Times newspaper has reported that social services in Lincolnshire had contact with the family when the daughters were young and suspicions were raised about the children’s parentage.

In 1997 the women’s brother came forward with “hearsay evidence” of incest. Police investigated the claim, but no further action was taken